Chōnin
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Chōnin (町人, "townsman") was a social class that emerged in Japan during the early years of the Tokugawa period. In the social hierarchy, it was considered subordinate to the samurai warrior class.[1]
Social Class
The chōnin emerged in joka-machi or castle towns during the sixteenth century.[2] The majority of chōnin were merchants, but some were craftsmen. Nōmin (農民, "farmers") were not considered chōnin. Later, peasants, servants, and workers were also considered members of the social class.[2]
While chōnin are not as well known to non-Japanese as other social classes in Japan, they played a key role in the development of Japanese cultural products such as
The socioeconomic ascendance of chōnin has certain similarities to the roughly contemporary rise of the "bourgeoisie" in the West. In the latter part of the Tokugawa period, this social class wielded the real power in the society although the warrior class still dominated the political sphere.[3]
Origins
By the late 17th century the prosperity and growth of
(the principal source of domainal income) for cash and consumer goods.References
- ^ ISBN 0824817362.
- ^ ISBN 0674007700.
- ISBN 0415218241.
External links